Our properties are only made available to year-round residents of the Island who are active contributing members of the community.
There is a formal application and interview process in which feedback from the community is solicited. If approved, an applicant is eligible to purchase – or rent – a Walsh Park owned home on a subsidized basis.
Walsh Park always retains ownership of the land. The house may only be resold at a formula price to others who have been approved as prospective owners by Walsh Park. This mechanism allows a year-round resident to enjoy the benefits of home ownership, but also insures the ongoing presence of reasonably priced housing available exclusively to the year-round population.
This approach is successful and has since been copied by other island communities.
Our Mission
To promote the viability of the year-round community of Fishers Island by creating and maintaining a supply of attractive year-round housing.
What we do
Matthew Edwards
Program Manager
My father Albert was raised on Fishers and most of my earliest memories take place on Fishers. Thanks to our extended family, I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time on Fishers growing up and it’s been vitally important to me ever since. In 2015 I accepted the position with Walsh Park and became a full-time resident in 2017 with my family.
Community Involvement
- Member & Asst. Division Fire Chief, Fishers Island Fire Department
- Assistant Coach, Boys & Girls Basketball at Fishers Island School
- Member Fishers Island Board of Education
- Volunteer, Senior Lunch helper
Walsh Park History
Our Story
In 1987 Fishers Island faced a very serious problem, primarily because of rapidly rising real estate costs. The year-round population was steadily declining.
If the adult population decreased further, critical services such as the fire department, the EMT team, and the utility company could no longer be sustained without a significant change to both the character of the Island and the cost at which such vital community services could be provided. Furthermore, if the child population declined, the school would no longer be viable making it even more difficult for the Island to sustain a year-round community.
To address this problem, a not-for-profit corporation, the Walsh Park Benevolent Corporation was formed.
In 1987, nearly $2 million was raised to purchase a 24 acre parcel of land near North Hill on which 12 free-standing homes were constructed.
Over the years, with the financial support of many, the organization has purchased additional single family homes and apartments and now has 27 living units; over half of which are owner-occupied with the balance being rental units.
Over the next 30 years, Walsh Park purchased various properties on Fishers Island to ensure they remain in the year-round housing inventory.
These properties are leased to year-round residents who contribute to the vitality and community of Fishers Island.
In 2017 Walsh Park joined forces with the Ferry district who was looking for the "best use of space" for the 2nd floor of Building #209
This launched the Ferry Building Project that transformed the space into 3-2 bedroom apartments and 3-1 bedroom apartments. The project was completed in the fall of 2020.
Walsh Park is currently managed by a board of both seasonal and year round residents:
2022 BOARD
Andrew Burr and Ned Carlson Co-Presidents
Christian Arsenault
David Burnham
Dave Congdon
Gail Cypherd
Mere Doyen
Trudi Edwards
Mark Gaumond
Allison Goss
Ellen Harvey
Jeff MacDonald
Karena Rasser
Donald Young
